My 31st birthday is just around the corner, so it is time for my annual birthday sale! Today through August 20th (my actual birthday), all the patterns in my Ravelry store will be 31% off when you use coupon code birthday during checkout.

Thank you to my customers who keep my designing dream alive and going!

Lately I feel like I've been in a creative rut. I totally lost my motivation for the knitting project that Poochie The Dog destroyed. So I put it aside and tried to come up with something new. I'm trying to finish up my Dreaming of Egypt collection, and I have one garment and one accessory left. The project I gave up on was to be a tunic pullover, so I needed to come up with a replacement. It is hard to force creativity, and I didn't have any good backup ideas.

At the same time, I have been planning my birthday party. I usually don't make a big deal about my birthday, but this year I have two good friends who both have adorable families, and I decided that I would invite them all over for a tea party. The problem? Um... I don't have any tea cups, or a teapot. Time to go shopping (oh darn). I'm not a big fan of the area I live in, but one of the good points is that the surrounding area has a pretty nice selection of antique stores. So off I went, and finally hit the jackpot last weekend. I bought fancy table linens and tea cups.

Three lovely bone china tea cups

Cutwork embroidery tablecloth and napkins. The napkins need a lot of cleaning!

Table runner with crocheted lace

Such beautiful detail! Must have used a very tiny crochet hook!

On Etsy I bought a tea pot in a china pattern that I have loved since I was a little girl-- Royal Albert Old Country Roses. I used to drive my mother crazy every time we went to the mall; if we walked through the housewares department of Macy's I'd make her stop and look at all the pretty rose-covered china. I dreamed of having a set when I was grown up. Well, I might not have a set, but at least I have one piece! I have been enjoying tea in it every day since it arrived.

I also found an old hat. Yes, I am going to wear it. Yes, I know I will probably look weird to other people. But, you know what? Weird can be good, because I'm just being myself. I would wear vintage dresses and hats everyday if I could, but that probably wouldn't work out well since by the end of the day I seem to be covered in bits of yarn, thread, or dirt from the garden. Well, one can dream.

Here she is, the Begonia Pullover! Just in time for some transitional knitting, you can make this double v-neck pullover with short or 3/4 length sleeves to satisfy the changing weather. The body is worked in the round from the bottom up, beginning with a garter rib. Sections of the rib are continued up the sides of the body, with waist and bust shaping worked along either side of the rib. The neck rib is worked as you go, so there is very little finishing required. Stitches for the sleeves are picked up along the armhole and worked in short rows for the sleeve cap.

The silhouette was inspired by a purchased tank top, which had a scoop-neck in front and a v-neck in back. I liked the idea and wanted to translate it into a comfortable but sophisticated sweater. Begonia can be dressed up with a skirt or trousers, or be worn more casually with jeans. Along with the options for two sleeve lengths, there are two body lengths to choose from. My personal choice is to wear shorter tops with skirts; the proportions just look better on me, since it is not flattering for me to tuck in blouses. I wanted to provide that option, along with a longer body length that someone would be more likely to wear with pants.

Begonia can be made in a broad range of worsted weight yarns. The pink pullover shown was made in Knit Picks Comfy Worsted (a cotton/acrylic blend), while the green pullover shown was made in Louet Gems Worsted (a merino yarn). I think the simple details of Begonia would be a great canvas for hand-painted yarns as well. I'd love to see your creations!